Limonium plant named ‘Danlisadablue’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Limonium  plant named ‘Danlisadablue’ characterized by: violet-blue flower color, RHS 93B; red-purple bud color; RHS 60 C; stem height of 70-90 cm; panicle type stem branching; and a yield of 6 to 10 stems per plant in the first flash.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Limoniumaltaica.

Variety denomination: ‘Danlisadablue’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Limoniumplant, botanically known as Limonium altaica, hereinafter referred to bythe ‘Danlisadablue’.

Limonium, of the Plumbaginaceae family, is commonly known assealavender. Limonium is found wild on sea coasts and marshes across theNorthern Hemisphere.

The new cultivar originated from an open pollination of Limonium plantswithin a breeding program field, discovered in a controlled environmentin Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is a proprietarycultivar designated ‘DLB’ (unpatented). The male parent is unknown.‘Danlisadablue’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, GabrielDanziger, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the openpollination program in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

A sexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tissue culture was firstperformed in August, 2001 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproducestrue-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Danlisadablue’ which in combinationdistinguish this Limonium as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Violet-blue flower color, RHS 93B;    -   2. Red-purple bud color; RHS 60C;    -   3. Stem height of 70-90 cm;    -   4. Panicle type stem branching; and    -   5. Yield of 6 to 10 stems per plant in the first flash.

‘Danlisadablue’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, anddaylength without any change in the genotype of the plant. The followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grownin Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel under conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Table 1 provides a comparison between plants of ‘Danlisadablue’ andplants of the parent, ‘DLB’ (unpatented).

TABLE 1 New Cultivar Female Parent Trait ‘Danlisadablue’ ‘DLB’(unpatented) Flower color Violet-blue group, Violet-blue group, RHS 93BRHS 93C Number of Flowers Approximately 30 Approximately 30 flowers infull bloom flowers in full bloom Growth and Erect growth habit; Erectgrowth habit; Branching Habit panicle branching habit panicle branchinghabit Yield of Stems 6-10 stems per plant in 5-8 stems per plant in thefirst flash the first flash

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Danlisadablue’ is the cultivar ‘Tall Emille’(unpatented). ‘Danlisadablue’ is distinct from ‘Tall Emille’ in itsnarrow shaped inflorescence compared to the open and wide shapedinflorescence of ‘Tall Emille’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Limonium showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible withcolor reproductions of this type.

The first photograph shows a top view of a flowering ‘Danlisadablue’plant.

The second photograph shows a side view of a flowering ‘Danlisadablue’plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, in Mediterraneanclimate at sea level, under conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice. Irrigation and Fertilization useis common to commercial practice for Limonium plants. Color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.)(published 2001) except where general colors of ordinary significanceare used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions atapproximately 10:00 AM in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of theplant described was 1 year old, in its second flash and the stem whichused to determine the R.H.S. colour was at 30-50% open flower stage.

-   Plant:-   General appearance and form:    -   -   Height.—70-90 cm.        -   Spread.—40-50 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Erect.        -   Growth rate.—7-9 weeks from planting to the first bloom.        -   Branching habit and description.—Panicle.        -   Flowering stem length.—80-90 cm.        -   Flowering response.—Day natural.        -   Flowering season.—Year round, spring, summer and autumn in            open field, winter in a greenhouse.        -   Winter hardiness/weather tolerance.—Frost tender.        -   Postproduction longevity.—2 weeks.        -   Rooting habit.—Tissue culture room.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Once tissue culture plantlets show            small roots, plantlets are transferred from the tissue            culture medium to a peat soil, then placed in 100% humid            condition for 7-14 days at 18-35° C., then the plantlets are            transferred to regular irrigation and fertilization.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—30-45 days from the            arrival from the tissue culture laboratory until the plants            are ready to plant.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Stems:    -   -   Appearance.—Panicle.        -   Aspect.—Stable, Erect.        -   Length.—70-90 cm.        -   Diameter.—Typical: 2 mm. Observed: 2 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green Group, RHS 139A.        -   Internode length.—Typical: 10-15 cm. Observed: 10-15 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Overall shape of leaf.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Length.—15-30 cm.        -   Width.—4-6 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color of upper surface: Mature leaf: Green Group, RHS 136A.            Immature leaf: Green Group, RHS 136A.        -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Green Group, RHS 136B.            Immature leaf: Green Group, RHS 136B.        -   Venation.—None.        -   Petiole.—Length: 3-12 cm. Diameter: 3-4 mm. Color: Green            Group, RHS 141C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Erect, trumpet shaped.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: 0.5-0.8 mm. Depth: 0.5 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Trumpet-shaped.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: 0.5 mm. Width: 1 mm. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color when opening: White, RHS            155A, at the base and violet-blue, RHS 93C, at the top.            Color when fully open: White, RHS 155A, at the base and            violet-blue, RHS 93C, at the top.        -   Corolla.—Number of petals: 5. Shape: Round saucer-shaped.            Diameter: 5-7 mm. Depth: Typical: 0.7 cm. Observed: 0.7 cm.        -   Petals.—Length: 3 mm. Width: 1 mm. Overall shape: Oblong.            Apex shape: Truncate. Base shape: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture: Smooth. Color when opening: Upper surface:            Violet-Blue Group, RHS 93B. Lower surface: Violet-Blue            Group, RHS 93B. Color when fully open: Upper surface:            Violet-Blue Group, RHS 93B. Lower surface: Violet-Blue            Group, RHS 93C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: 4. Shape: Oval when stretched out and semi            tubular on the plant. Length: 2-4 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Form:            Alternate, very dense.        -   Bud.—Color: Red, RHS 60 C. Shape: Oblong. Length: 2-3 mm.            Diameter: 1 mm.        -   Peduncle description.—Borne from 2 Sepals, 4 mm long, smooth            texture, green color, RHS 141C).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—5 in number, white in color.        -   Anthers.—5 in number, 0.5-1 mm in length; color brown-black.        -   Pistil.—5 in number.        -   Stigma.—Filament, white in color.        -   Style.—Filament, white in color.        -   Ovary.—Green in color.        -   Seeds.—Width: 1 mm. Length: 2 mm. Shape: Oval. Color: Brown.        -   Fruit.—White-brown in color.        -   Pollen.—Yellow in color.-   Disease resistance: Unknown.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the ‘Danlisadablue’ have exhibited good    tolerance to draught, rain and wind, however flowering may cease    during hot periods (temperatures 30° C.).

1. A new and distinct Limonium plant named ‘Danlisadablue’, asillustrated and described herein.